Cattle: Norwegian Red

Country of origin

Norway

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Australian Status

LOST

International status

Healthy numbers in Norway, estimated at 280,000.

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Uses

 Dairy

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Breed traits

Red and white colour with red usually predominant.  Dairy.

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History

Developed in Norway from 1935.

History in Australia

Arrived in Australia in the 2000's with reports of a couple of pure herds here, but cannot find evidence or if still going or dispersed. Like many breeds in recent times, brought here as straws. Not known (investigating) if embryos have come in, or live animals. 

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Breed Association

None found in Australia but first crosses may enter the Aussie Red register. Can't find any register, perhaps try the International Red Dairy Cattle one although surely must be a studbook in the home country? The modern obsession with genetics (AI) means most sites just feature limited numbers bulls with their various "merit points" listed.

This seems to be the website for the homeland and records herds rather than individuals in a studbook  Norwegian Red.

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Australian Population

Unknown

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Additional Notes

Many genetics companies here sell straws of Norwegian Red bulls so the genetics are widely distributed in our Australian dairy breeds - the first cross can be registered as an Australian Red.  So subsequent cross can be too - so one can see how easily some animals may be upgrades to several generations Norwegian Red if a farmer chooses to stay with that breed. The genetics are also in the new composite "breed" the Viking Red. It says a lot for this old breed that it's held its own in the commercial dairy world although the fashion for red composites sees it disappear in the pure form in most countries, it is kept going in in good numbers indeed in its home land which is heartening.  Further information welcome.

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Photo credit

Norwegian Red at the Kings farm, Oslo in the background. Wikimedia Commons.

Page by Janet Lane

 

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